Phototoxic compounds for use as insect control agents

Abstract

A method is provided herein for controlling insects which are harmful to agriculture and forestry and which are also harmful both to humans and to domestic animals. The method involves the steps of applying to a locus infested with such insects, a composition comprising a carrier and a biocidal-amount of a specifically-recited phototoxic, naturally-occurring thiophene, acetylene, or a synthetic, structurally-related derivative, analogue or acetylenic compound. Then, that composition, while at that locus, is subjected to UV radiation in the range about 300 nm to about 400 nm, for a sufficient time to impart, to such phototoxic naturally-occurring thiophene, acetylene, or synthetic, structurally-related derivative, analogue or acetylenic compound the desired insect control activity. Certain of these phototoxic naturally-occurring thiophenes, or acetylenes or synthetic, structurally-related compounds are also novel and provide novel insect control compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A phototoxic terthienyl compound selected from the group consisting of (a) compounds of Formula XIX: ##STR66##  wherein: 1) R 1  =R 2  =CHO; 2) R 1  =R 2  =C.tbd.N;   3) R 1  =R 2  =NO 2  ;   4) R 1  =NH 2  ; R 2  =H;   5) R 1  =(CH 2 ) 2  OH; R 2  =H;     6) R 1  =C.tbd.N; R 2  =H;   7) R 1  =CH═CHCO 2  H(cis), R 2  =H; or   8) R 1  =CH═CHCO 2  H(trans), R 2  =H;   (b) compounds of Formula XX: ##STR67##  wherein 9) R 1  =CH 3  CH 2  ; and   (c) compounds of Formula XXV (where a dot indicates the point of attachment): ##STR68##   
     
     
       2. A compound of claim 1 of Formula XIX. 
     
     
       3. A compound of claim 1 of Formula XX. 
     
     
       4. A compound of claim 1 of the formula ##STR69## 
     
     
       5. A compound of claim 1 of the formula ##STR70## 
     
     
       6. A compound of claim 1 of the formula ##STR71##